The right speaker can set the tone for a whole day. Here is the wider group the ABS counts speakers in, and a brief to take to every speaker or agent you contact.
Who you'll be hiring
Creative artists, musicians, writers and performers in Australia trading at the end of June 2025: 17,462, by how many people they employ. Businesses whose main work is speaking are counted in this wider group, which the ABS describes as including speaking services.
Booking a speaker for your event. Have the first half ready before you call. Put the second half to every business you speak to.
Tell them
The event, the date and the placeA conference, an offsite, an awards night, an online session.
Who will be in the audienceHow many people, their work, and what they have just been through.
What you'd like them to leave withA feeling, an idea, a change in how they work together.
The time slotHow long the talk runs, and whether there are questions after.
What the room offersStage, screen, microphone, livestream or recording.
Ask them
01How will the talk be shaped for your audience?Ask what they would want to know beforehand.
02What happens if they're unwell on the day?Ask whether they can suggest someone, or move the date.
03What does the fee include, and what costs extra?Travel, accommodation, a second session, a workshop.
04What will they need from you on the day?Equipment, a room to prepare in, arrival time.
05May the talk be recorded or shared afterwards?Ask for what you agree to be written into the booking.
06Can you see a full talk they've given?A whole recording, not only highlights.
From motivationalspeakers.com.au, a concept page.
Finding the right voice
A speaker's story matters less than how well it connects with your people. Watch a full talk, start to finish, and imagine your own audience in the seats.
A short call before booking lets you hear how they listen. Talks shaped around the room tend to land.
Sending the brief
Share the first half before you speak, so the speaker can tell you honestly whether they are a good fit for your event. Ask everyone the same questions and keep the answers together.
Printed, the brief fits on one page, with a line to write on under every item.
Shows whether a business's ABN is active or cancelled, its business type and its GST status, and the Register says the public can use it to check a business before buying.